Where to live Britain s best country life

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1 NOT FOR BROADCAST OR PUBLICATION BEFORE HRS ON SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2018 Where to live Britain s best country life Orkney Islands retains crown as Britain s best rural place to live The nation s happiest adults live in Craven, Yorkshire South Cambridgeshire and Aberdeenshire named as nation s healthiest district Highest average weekly earnings ( 921) are in Waverley, Surrey Britain s best rural places to live have been revealed and the Orkney Islands are top of the spots for the second year in a row. The latest Halifax 2018 Rural Areas Quality of Life Survey found the top five hotspots included Rutland (East Midlands) in second place, followed by Wychavon (West Midlands) and Winchester and Waverley (). The annual study analyses key factors that combine to determine quality of life across the nation, including employment, education, social and environmental factors. The Orkney Islands maintained top scored on employment rate (87%) and average spend per pupil on education ( 9,662), a top three place in low anxiety levels, crime rate, primary class size and consistently high scores in life satisfaction and happiness. Rutland revealed as runner up Rutland in the East Midlands has the second best quality of life, scoring well across the measures, with a high average life expectancy (male 82 years and female 85 years) and 97% of adults considering themselves to be in good health. Rutland residents have some of the biggest homes in rural Britain with an average of 6.4 habitable rooms and nine out of 10 homes (92%) having superfast broadband. School performance is the highest in England with 71% of 15+ year-olds achieving five or more GCSE results at grades A-C. Wychavon in West Midlands, along with Winchester and Waverley in the, complete the top five. These areas all performed well in the Personal Well-Being Survey, as well as having high male and female life expectancy. Residents in Waverley also take home the highest weekly wage in the UK ( 921). Russell Galley, Managing Director, and Halifax, said: With strong education and employment levels, low crime rates and residents loving life, not to mention breathtaking wide open spaces, the Orkney Islands have retained the crown of Britain s best rural place to live. The winning formula for quality of life in the countryside seems to consistently include high employment levels and top scores on wellbeing, along with low school class sizes and high average spend per pupil more than twice the national average. 1

2 However, there is more variety and balance across the country scoring strongly across each category this year, with rural areas in the receiving higher weekly earnings, while the East Midlands have larger property sizes. On the southern coast, sunnier climates shine through in the rankings, while, lower house prices to earnings, wellbeing and class sizes give northern areas the desirability factor. Almost a third of the top 50 best places to live are in southern and east England The top 50 rural places to live in Britain include nine districts in the and 10 each in both the South West and the East of England. Six areas in Yorkshire and the Humber make the top 50 these include Craven and Richmondshire (6 th and 7 th place respectively), as well as Stratford on Avon in the West Midlands (8 th ) and Monmouthshire in Wales (19 st ). KEY FACTS Labour Market Employment is highest in Orkney Islands, at 87.0% and Shetland Islands (85.5%). The GB average is 75.1%. The highest weekly average earnings are in Waverley ( 921 per week), followed by East Hampshire ( 883 p/w). The GB average is 655 per week. The proportion of adults (16+ years) with the highest level of qualification gained (such as a degree, NVQ level 4 and above, or professional qualification) is the highest in the Winchester (55.8%), followed by Waverley and Rushcliffe (both 54.0%) all significantly above the GB average of 35.6%. Housing The biggest homes are in Uttlesford in Essex, and Rutland, which both have an average of 6.4 habitable rooms. The smallest homes are in the Orkney Islands, East Lothian, Highlands, and Argyle and Bute (all with no more than 4.6 habitable rooms). The average number of habitable rooms in Britain is % of homes in East Ayrshire have central heating; the national average is 97%. Copeland in the North West has the lowest average house price to earnings ratio of 4.0, followed by East Ayrshire (4.3). Some of the highest ratios are in Chichester (11.8) and South Oxfordshire (10.5). The GB average is 7.5. Broadband speed is based on the proportion of premises able to receive 5Mbps (mega bits per second). Harborough and Swale have the best internet access (both 99%), closely followed by Tendring (97%). Local Environment The Western Isles and Highlands share the top spot for the lowest population density, with just nine people per square kilometre, compared to a national average of 276. At the other end of the

3 scale, the most populated rural areas per square kilometre are Tendring in the East Midlands (422) and Wyre in North West (391). The lowest traffic levels are in the Western Isles with just 80 vehicles per square kilometre, Highland (108 vehicles/km 2 ),) and Argyll & Bute (137 vehicles/km). The Great British average is 9,729 vehicles/km. Western Isles has the lowest burglary rate per 10,000 people (2.2) followed by Orkney Islands (3.7), Shetland Islands (3.9), West Oxfordshire and North Norfolk (both 8.5) compared to GB average of 29.9 per 10,000. The lowest CO2 emissions are in Swale and Sedgemoor (both 1.5) followed by 15 rural areas, including Huntingdonshire, St Edmundsbury and South Somerset with 1.6 tonnes of CO2 per household against GB average of 1.7 tonnes of CO2 per household. Weather The lowest average annual rainfall (561mm) is in Maldon in Essex. Eight of the 10 driest districts in Britain are in the east of England. The national average annual rainfall is 864mm. The sunniest place in Great Britain is the Isle of Wight where residents enjoy an average of 36.9 hours of sunshine a week (GB average 29.8 hours). Health The healthiest districts are South Cambridgeshire and Aberdeenshire both with 96.8% or more households rating themselves in good or fairly good health. In Britain as a whole, 94.6% of households rate themselves as in good or fairly good health. Life expectancy for males at birth is highest in South Cambridgeshire (82.1 years). The average is 79.4 years. Life expectancy for females at birth is highest in Mid Devon (85.3 years). The average is 83.1 years. Education Primary school class sizes are smallest in, with nine of the 10 local authority districts with the smallest primary school classes here. The Western Isles has the lowest in Great Britain with 17.3, compared to a GB average of Nine of the 10 local districts with the lowest secondary school pupil teacher ratio areas are in. The Western Isles has the lowest secondary school pupil teacher ratio of 13.4, compared to 20.9 across Great Britain. The best GCSE results in England are in Rutland (70.8%). The GB average is 59.2%. The highest average school (both secondary and primary) spend per pupil is in the Orkney Islands ( 9,662) more than twice Great Britain s average of 4,642.

4 Personal Well-Being Personal well-being is based on four categories life satisfaction, worthwhile, happiness and anxiety: Adults (16+) in Craven, Yorkshire and the Humber have the highest average rating for life satisfaction in Great Britain. Based on a score out of 10, the adults had an average rating of 8.5, compared with the GB average of 7.7. With a rating of 8.7 (out of 10), adults in North Warwickshire believe what they do in life is worthwhile, the highest average rating in Great Britain. The GB average is 7.9. The happiest adults are in Craven, with an average rating of 8.3 significantly higher than the Great Britain average of 7.5. Adults in Craven are also the least anxious with an average rating of 2.0. The average for Great Britain is 2.9. Leisure Eden in Cumbria has the highest number of pubs per 10,000 adults (28.3) followed by Derbyshire Dales (26.7). The GB average is For the active, Purbeck is the place to head to for health and fitness clubs where there are 3.7 clubs per 10,000 people. The GB average is 1.4.

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6 Table 1: 2018 Halifax Rural Quality of Life rankings the top 50 areas based on annual data Local Authority Districts (LAD) Region Ranking 2018 Orkney Islands 1 Rutland East Midlands 2 Wychavon West Midlands 3 Winchester 4 Waverley 5 Craven Yorkshire and The Humber 6 Richmondshire Yorkshire and The Humber 7 Stratford-on-Avon West Midlands 8 Uttlesford East of England 9 Ryedale Yorkshire and The Humber 10 South Oxfordshire 11 Selby Yorkshire and The Humber 12 St Edmundsbury East of England 13 Suffolk Coastal East of England 14 Purbeck South West 15 Hambleton Yorkshire and The Humber 16 West Oxfordshire 17 Harborough East Midlands 18 Monmouthshire Wales 19 Eden North West 20 South Cambridgeshire East of England 21 Tewkesbury South West 22 Chichester 23 Babergh East of England 24 Maldon East of England 25 Cotswold South West 26 Aylesbury Vale 27 Wiltshire South West 28 West Dorset South West 29 East Devon South West 30 Mid Devon South West 31 Rushcliffe East Midlands 32 Malvern Hills West Midlands 33 South Norfolk East of England 34 South Lakeland North West 35 Vale of White Horse 36 South Hams South West 37 Huntingdonshire East of England 38 Horsham 39 North Warwickshire West Midlands 40

7 Shetland Islands 41 East Hampshire 42 Central Bedfordshire East of England 43 Derbyshire Dales East Midlands 44 North Devon South West 45 Mid Suffolk East of England 46 East Riding of Yorkshire Yorkshire and The Humber 47 Teignbridge South West 48 Ribble Valley North West 49 North Kesteven East Midlands 50 Source: Halifax Table 2: Rural with the Best Quality of Life in each region in 2018 Local Authority Region Ranking 2018 Orkney Islands 1 Rutland East Midlands 2 Wychavon West Midlands 3 Winchester 4 Craven Yorkshire and the Humber 6 Uttlesford East of England 9 Purbeck South West 15 Monmouthshire Wales 19 Eden North West 20 Northumberland North East 95 Source: Halifax Table 3: Rural areas with the Best Quality of Life in each category in 2018 Local Authority Group Variable District Region Labour (GB average is 75.1%) Highest employment rate: 87.0% Orkney Islands (GB- 655 per week) Highest gross weekly Earnings: 921 Waverley (GB 35.6%) % of adults (16+) with highest qualification gained: 55.8%. This includes graduate and post postgraduate degrees, NVQ level 4 and above, and professional qualifications. Winchester Housing (GB 5.4) Highest average number of rooms in house: 6.4 Uttlesford East of England

8 Rutland East Midlands (GB 97%) Largest % of houses with central heating: 100% East Ayrshire (GB 7.5) Lowest House price to earnings ratio: 4.0 Copeland North West (GB 94%) % of households with more than 5Mbps: LADs with 99% of premises having broadband speed in excess of 5Mbps Harborough Swale East Midlands Local environment (GB- 276 per sq/km) Lowest Population density per sq. km: 9 Western Isles Highland Both (GB- 9,729 cars/km) Lowest traffic flows per 2 Western Isles square km: 80 cars /km (GB-29.9 per 10,000 people) Lowest burglary rate per 10,000 population: 2.2 per 10,000 people Western Isles (GB 1.7 tonnes CO 2 emissions per household Lowest Total Consumer CO 2 Emissions: 1.5 tonnes per household Sedgemoor Swale South West Health and weather (GB mm per year) Lowest average annual rainfall: 561mm Maldon East of England (GB hours per week) Highest average weekly sunshine hours: 36.9 hours Isle of Wight Health (GB 94.6%) Highest % of residents in good health: 96.8% South Cambridgeshire Aberdeenshire East of England Male life expectancy (GB years) Longest Male life expectancy at birth for males: 82.1 years South Cambridgeshire Female life expectancy (GB years) Longest Female life expectancy at birth for females: 85.3 years Mid Devon South West Education (GB-27.1 pupils per class) Lowest average number of pupils in primary school class: 17.3 Western Isles

9 Secondary Education (GB 20.9 pupil to teacher) Lowest secondary school pupil teacher ratio: 13.4 Western Isles Secondary Education Exams (GB- 59.2%) Highest % of 15yr olds with 5 or more GCSEs A-C grade: 70.8% Rutland East Midlands Per pupil spending (primary and seconday) (GB - 4,642 per pupil) Highest per pupil spend: 9,662 Orkney Islands Personal Well Being GB- 7.7 from 10) Highest Life Satisfaction rating out of 10: 8.5 Craven Yorkshire and the Humber (GB- 7.9 from 10) Highest Worthwhile rating out of 10: 8.7 North Warwickshire West Midlands (GB- 7.5 from 10) Highest Happiness rating out of 10: 8.3 Craven Yorkshire and the Humber (GB- 2.9 from 10) Lowest levels of Anxiety rating out of 10: 2.0 Craven Yorkshire and the Humber Leisure Number of pubs per 10,000 (GB-10.1 per 10,000 population: 28.3 per 10,000 people) people (GB-1.4 per 10,000 people) Source: Halifax Ends Notes to editors: Number of fitness & Health clubs per 10,000 population: 3.7 per 10,000 people Eden Purbeck North West South West Halifax Rural Quality of Life Survey tracks where living standards are highest in Great Britain by ranking local performance across key indicators covering: the labour market, the housing market, the environment, education, health, and personal wellbeing. The survey is based on data at local authority district (LAD) level and examines 109 rural LADs in Great Britain. Data has also been gathered from a number of sources, including: Halifax, OFCOM (Broadband data), ONS, DEFRA, the Met Office, the Department for Transport, Department of Children, Schools and Families, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Welsh Assembly, and the Scottish Executive. The quality of life reading for each LAD has been created by summing scores across 26 variables within 8 broad groups. Each LAD is given a score out of 10 for each variable contained in the index. Scores within each of the broad groups are averaged and then the seven group scores are summed to create an overall quality of life score. Note: 1 The British Beer & Pub Association represents Britain s brewers and pub companies, members account for some 96% of beer brewed in Britain today, and own more than half of the nation s pubs. These members are from international brewers, to market-leading managed pub companies, the nation s largest tenanted pub companies and historic family brewers. 2 health clubs and leisure centres covers commercial health & fitness clubs and the other local authority leisure centres, local authority swimming pools with gyms and universities with access for the public. Source: Leisure intelligence analysis supplied by John Turner Leisure Marketing Limited t/a Leisure Lists This analysis was undertaken using the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Urban Rural classification. This classification defines an area as a Rural Area if it lies in a town or village of less than 10,000, or as an urban area if it lies in a town or city of 10,000 or more residents. A rural LAD is one where the majority of these residents live in rural areas.

10 "This report is prepared from information that we believe is collated with care, however, it is only intended to highlight issues and it is not intended to be comprehensive. We reserve the right to vary our methodology and to edit or discontinue/withdraw this, or any other report. Any use of this report for an individual's own or third party commercial purposes is done entirely at the risk of the person making such use and solely the responsibility of the person or persons making such reliance." Bank of plc all rights reserved Group Variable Period covered Labour Employment rate % Jul 2016-Jun 2017 Gross weekly Earnings s April 2017 (up rated by average weekly earnings index to September 2017) % of adults(16+) with highest qualification 2011 Census data gained Housing Number of rooms in house England & Wales 2011 ONS Census Data Housing Conditions Survey 2009/11 Northern Ireland November 2017 Halifax data % of houses with central heating and sole use of bathroom England & Wales 2011 ONS Census Data housing Conditions Survey 2009/11 NI Halifax Data to October House prices to Earnings ratio 12 months to October 2017 Broadband speed is based on % of OFCOM 2016 premises able to receive 5Mbit/s (mega bits per second) Local environment Population density per square km 2016 ONS Traffic flows per square km 2016 Burglary rate per 10,000 population British Crime Survey 2017; Northern Ireland 2016 CO 2 Emissions per tonne per capita 2015 Department of Energy and Climate Change (covers period ) Weather Average annual rainfall mm Met Office Average 2009/2013 Annual sunshine hours Met Office Average 2009/2013 Health % in good or fairly good health 2011 Census Life expectancy at birth for males England, Wales & 2013/15; Northern Ireland 2011/13 Life expectancy at birth for females England, Wales & 2013/15; Northern Ireland 2011/13 Education Number of pupils in primary school class England and Wales 2017, and Northern Ireland 2015/16; 2016 % of 15yr+ olds with 5 or more GCSEs A-C 2015/16 grade or Scottish equivalent Average state school (primary and secondary) spending per pupil England 2017, 2015/16 and Wales 2017/18; NI 2013/ /16 Secondary school pupil teacher ratio England 2016 (adjusted class size data), Wales 2016 and 2015/16 Northern Ireland 2016/17 Personal Well-Being Life Satisfaction April 2016-March 2017 ONS Worthwhile April 2016-March 2017 ONS Happiness April 2016-March 2017 ONS Anxiety April 2016-March 2017 ONS Leisure Number of Pubs 2016 British Beer and Pub Association Number of Fitness & Health clubs 2016 Leisure intelligence analysis supplied by John Turner Leisure Marketing Limited t/a Leisure Lists